Counting apparatus.



A. F. DIXON.

COUNTING APPARATUS. I

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1915.

1,254,661. Patented Jan. 29, 191&

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Wflxvessesx //7ve/7f0/ A .ZM Q Amas F U/xan.

A. F. DIXON.

COUNTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1915.

1,254,661. Patented Jan. 29, 191&

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/fneases: r //7ven/0r.

Amos E [7/x0/7.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. Amos ERED'ERIcK DIXON, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MEsNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INcoRPoRA'rED, A CORPORATION OF NEw roRKs COUNTING APPARA'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 29, 1918. I

Application filed May 24, 1915. Serial lie-30,004.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AMos FREDERICK .DIXON, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey,have invented certain new. and useful Improvements 1n Counting Apparatus, of which the'following is a full, clear, concise, and exact desuch as typewriters, perforators and the like;

In accordance with the general features of this invention, provision is made whereby keys adapted to control the production of two different characters, as for example, a letter-and a digit, will not, in the first instance cause a registration, while in the second case a registration will be. made. Registrations of actual words are produced through the agency of a key which controls the formation of the proper space between adjacent words An arrangement of this character is especially desirable in telegraphic work where, in order to make the required charges and provide proper records, a count must be made of'the number of words in each message. In making such counts, it IS customary to reglster' actual words and also arbitrary words, such as digits, punctuation marks, etc. Provision is also made for the resetting of the register mechanism at the will of the operator in an; accurate and exceedingly simple manner.

More specifically, the invention comprises an improved electromagnetically actuated registering mechanism controllable by keys through suitable mechanical or circuit connections. The preferred arrangement is such that the manipulation of a so-called double-case key, to control the production of a letter, will not cause a registration, the registration of actual words being controlled at'their conclusion, by the space key. On the other hand, however, when a doublecase key. is to be manipulated to control the production of another character, as, for example, a single numeral or punctuation mark, a preparatory key, which has first been manipulated, prepares for the operation of electromechanical registering mechanism, whose operation is subsequently ef fected by the manipulation of the desired character key. The registering mechanism may comprise a plurality of number Wheels successively moved to advance the count,

each wheel being provided with a restoring 0.

device which is allowed to become operative upon the manipulation of a lever, which relieves the wheels from the influence of a holding pawl and the advancing pinions.

The above and other objects of this invention will be fully set forth in the following description and claims, and Will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic representation of the circuit connections, a part of the keyboard mechanism of a perforator being shown in perspective. Fig. 2 is a plan, in partialsec: tion, of the mechanism of the counting apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a section thereof on the line 33 of Fig. 2..

Thekeyboard mechanism may be of any desired and suitable form and arrangement, the keys controlling either directly or indirectly the production of a written message. Thus a key lever 5 is. adapted to control the production of letter A, and since, as shown, it is adapted to control this character only, it is what is commonly called a single case key. A key lever is adapted to control the production of both letter W and numeral 2, and is, therefore, a

' double case key.

punctuation mark, etc., until the letter 100 or unshift key 8 is depressed. The spacing between adjacent words is effected by the depression of a suitable space key 9.

The keyboard disclosed is a type commonly employed in the rinting telegraph 105 art and is known as a ree keyboard, because all keys return to normal immediately after being depressed and none of the keys are latched or locked in their depressedf position. The shift key in addition to 110 closing an energizing circuit through a circuit controlling relay 31, shifts the paper platen or printing mechanism which is then mechanically locked in its shifted position until the unshift key 8 is actuated.

All of the keys, except the space key, 'may be pivoted on a' rod 10, and the space key may be pivoted on a suitable rod 11. Since the mechanism or system, whereby any key may control the production of a letter or character, forms no part of this invention, no explanation is made of any particular arrangement.

Beneath and lying transversely of the key levers, there is located a switch operating bar 15. This bar is formed with a pair of downwardly inclined lugs 16, which are held and may be slidably moved between pairs of suitable 'pins or friction-reducing rollers 17.

One end of bar 15 is associated with a switch 18, one contact of which is connected to a grounded source of energy 19. Downward pressure upon bar 15 causes it to move downwardin a direction diagonal to its normal position, and results in the closing of switch 18 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Bar 15 may be ,returnedby a spring memher (not shown) which moves it upward and to the left whenthe pressure of a key lever is removed;

Shift key? coiiperates with a switch 25 in such a manner that when it is depressed the switch is closed. Unshift key 8 is adapted, when depressed, to open a switch 26, and space key 9 is adapted to close a switch 27. Bar 15 is provided withnotches beneath all of the single case, the shift and the unshift keys, so that when any of these keys is depressed switch 18 remains unaffected. W hen, however, a double case key, beneath which there is no notch, is depressed, bar 15 is caused to close switch 18.

One contact of switch 25 is connected to grounded source of energy 30, and the other contact is connected to one terminal of the winding of a relay 31, the other terminal of which is grounded. This relay is provided with a pair of armatures 32 and 33. Armature 32 is joined to the conductor connecting one contact of switch 25 and the winding of relay 31, and coiiperates with a front contact connected to one contact of switch 26,

The other contact of switch 26 is connected to a grounded source of energy 34. Armature 33 is joined to one terminal of an electromagnet 35 of a registering mechanism 36, the other terminal of which is grounded, and cooperates with back and front contacts. The back contact is connected to one contact of switch 27 the other contact of which is connected to a grounded source of energy 37 The front contact is joined to a contact of switch 18.

The counting apparatus or registering mechanism 36 comprises a suitable frame 40,

nee incl which serves as a support for all of the elements and furnlshes sockets for the necessary shafts. The count is made on a plurality of number or digit wheels ll, 42 and 43, on which numerals from O to 9 appear, as shown. mounted on a nonrotatable shaft 44, and are properly spaced from the frame 40 by collars 45. Each number wheel 41 1-43 is provided with a spring drum 50, rigidly secured to one side thereof, and a positioning collar 51. The groove thus formed by .a number wheel and its corresponding collar 51 coZiper-- ates with the sides of a stop member 52 to keep the wheels in their proper place on the shaft 44. 'Within each of these grooves there is provided a stop pin 53 whichalso cotSper- These wheels 4143 are loosely ates with the stop member 52 to limit the device in the form of a helical spring 5 1 secured at its inner end to a suitable slot in shaft n. The outer ends of these springs bear against but are not securely fastened to the inner surfaces of the drums 50. The frictional engagement between springs 5 and drums 50 is, however, suficient to rotate the wheels in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3, when allowed to do so as hereinafter explained, but there is no danger of the springs being broken or the apparatus becoming jammed, no matter how many times the wheels are rotated.

Rotary motion is imparted to number wheels lk-i3 by electromagnet 35 through the agency of an actuator 55. Electromagnet 35 acts upon an armature 56 pivoted on a shaft 57 to rotate the armature against the tension of a spring 58. This spring 58 is secured at one end to a rod 59 supported I by frame 40, and at the other end is fastened to armature 56 by an adjustable lug 60. Actuator 55 is pivotally carried by armature 56 through a pivot pin 61, and is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by spring 58. The reciprocatory motion of actuator 55 produces rotary motion in the number wheels through a ratchet wheel 65 which is secured to the units number wheel 41. As actuator 55 is moved to theright by armature 56, it engages a tooth of ratchet wheel 65 and rotates it, together with units wheel 11, in a direction opposite to that of the arrow in Fig. 3, until an upwardly projecting lug 66 thereon engages a stop 67 which is secured to the frame 40. When this position is reached the units wheel has been moved a sufiicient amount to exhibit the next higher digit thereon. The units wheel is retained in this condition, against the tendency of spring 54 to return it when armature 56 is retracted,.by a holding pawl 70. This pawl is pivoted upon a shaft 71 and is normally held in engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 65 by a spring 72. One end of spring 72 is secured to pawl 70 andthe other end to a bracket 73, which is carried by the frame 40, and to which stop members 52 are also fastened.

' In order that the count may be kept by the mechanism shown in .umts, tens and hundreds, means are provided whereby at the proper time motion is communicated from each number wheel to the next succeeding or higher digits wheel. This means comprlses a gear wheel 74 secured to each number whee except the last, and provided with only two teeth which are adjacent to each other. Each number wheel, except the first, also carries a gear wheel 75 which is provided with as many teeth as there are numerals upon its corresponding number wheel, in the mechanism shown there being. ten such teeth. Cooperating with each adiacent-pair of gear wheels 74 and 75 is a small pinion 76 whose teeth are adapted to engage the teeth of both gear wheels. Smce, however, there are but two teeth on wheel 74, it'is only once during a revolution of units wheel 41 that motion will be communicated to tens wheel 42, and similarly only once during a complete revolution of tens I wheel 42 that a step will be communicated to hundreds wheel 43. It is, therefore, apparent that for. every ten steps of units wheel 41'the tens wheel 42 will make one step, and for every ten steps of tens wheel 42 the hundreds wheel 43 will make one step. If necessary the number 'of wheels may be increased as desired. The two pinions 76 are loosely mounted upon the shaft 77 which is carried by and between two bracket arms 78 and 79. These bracket arms are pivotally secured to the frame 40 by suitable pivot screws 80. A downwardly extendingportion 81 of the-pawl 70 partlyembraces the shaft 77 carrying the p1n1ons 76, so that when the shaft 77 is moved by the resetting means, as will be hereinafter explained, the holding pawl 70 is disen gaged from its ratchet wheel 65.

In order that the tens and hundreds digits wheels will not be prematurely returned to their normal position, by their restoring devices, after each forward step, means are provided for preventing the backward' rotation of any of the pinions 76. These means comprise a lever 85 individual to each pinion 76 and pivotally carried by and between the bracket arms 78 and 79 on a shaft 86. The forward ends of levers 85 are held yieldinglyv in engagement with the teeth of their cooperating pinions 76 by means of springs 87. One-end of each of thesesprings is secured to frame 40, the

other end being fastened to lever 85. The Cooperation between levers 85 and their corresponding pinions 76 is such that when a pinion is rotated in the direction. of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, to communicate advancing-motion from one number wheel to the next succeeding wheel, this rotatlon. is in no wa interfered with by the ends of levers 85. owever, aftera lever 85 has rldden behind this tooth and prevents any backward movement of the inion; and since each pinion interlocks t e teeth of gear wheels 74 and 75, the springs wlthin drums 50 are prevented from rotating the number wheels.

In order that the apparatus may be rese after counting the words of a message,

means are provided under the control of the operator for simultaneously releasing the number wheels to allow their individual springs to restore them to normal condition,

'as shown in Fig. 3. This means comprises shown in Fig. 3. Whenever the operator,

therefore, wishes to reset the wheels to norover the next tooth of a pinion 76, it dropsmal, lever 90 is depressed causing the depression of the free ends of arms 78 and 79 and the shaft 77 carried thereby, resulting in the withdrawal of holding pawl 70 and pinions 76 from engagement with their respective wheels. Thereupon the springs within the drums 50 rotate the number wheels in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 until the stop pin 53 associated with each is engaged by the proper stop member 52, in which condition all of the wheelsare at normal.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Upon each depression of space'key 9 after the completion of an actual word, switch 27 is closed, whereupon current flows from grounded source 37 through switch 27,

back contact and armature 33 of relay 31 j and electromagnet 35 to ground. Electromagnet 35 thereupon attracts its armature 56 causing actuator 55 to engage ratchet wheel 65 to move units wheel 41 forward one step.

During the forming of actual words, the

depression of the double case keys, to effect the production of a letter, does not result in the energization of electromagnet 35, for, although the depression of each such key causes the closing of switch 18 through the etc., each one of which is arbitrarily chosen to count asone word, are to be produced,

45 I this pinion and gear wheel T5, tens wheel 42 shift key 7 must first be depressed. The depression of this key causes the closing of switch 25, whereupon a circult is completed from grounded source 30 through the winding of relay 31 to ground. Relay 31 there- .upon attracts both its armatures 32 and 33. Armature 32 completes a holding circuit for relay 31 from grounded source 34: through switch 26, front contact and armature 32,

through the .winding of relay 31 to ground; I Y The attraction of armature prepares a C11- cuit from switch 18 through electromagnet '35, the operative condition of which is insured by the subsequent depression of a double case key which, by closing switch 18, connects grounded source of energy 19 to electroniagnet 35, effecting the operation of the registering mechanism. Since relay 31 in attracting armature 32 has provided a holding circuit for itself, afte shift key 7 15 once depressed registrations will thereafter be made for each depression of a double case key until unshift key 8 is operated. The depression of unshift key 8 opens switch 26 breaking the previously traced holding circuit for relay 31, whereupon the armatures 32 and 33 are retracted and the energization of electromagnet 35 is returned to the control of space key 9. During the entire production of figures, punctuation marks, et-c., however, the operation of space key 9 cannot cause a registration, since the circuit of switch 27 is open at armature Thus, a double count is'impossible.

I Upon each energization of electromagnet 35, units wheel i1 is advanced one step, as previously described, through the agency of armature 56 and actuator 55, the wheel being retained in each advanced position by hold ing pawl 70. Upon the tenth step of units wheel 11, gear wheel Tl has made a complete revolution, its teeth engage the cooperating pinion T 6, causing this-pinion to be rotated one step in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, and, because of the cooper-a tion of This action continues, one step for each ten is moved one step. tens wheel l2 taking steps of units wheel ll until the tens wheel makes ten steps, whereupon the hundreds wheel i3 is caused to be moved one step. After the completlon of the message, the

weasel operator depresses lever 90, whereupon holding pawl 70 and'pinions 76 are removed from engagement with their corresponding ratchet wheel. and the number wheels are returned to their normal position as shown in Fig. 3,1as preriously described.

The invention claimed is:

1. A counting apparatus comprising a registering nmrhanisui, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of said mechanism, a switch. a relay energized by the operation of said switch to partly prepare an operating circuit for said electromagnet, a second switch for completingthe operating circuit thus prepared to effect a registration, and an ilu'lependently actuated switch for effecting the energization of said electromagnet to *ause a registration when said relay is delinergizedQ 2. In a counting apparatus, the combination of a registering mechamsm, an electromagnet for effecting the operation of said mechanism, an energizing circuit for said electromagnet, a shift key for preparing said energizing circuit, a plurality of double case keys, and means operated by one of said keys for closing a switch in said prepared circuit to effecta registration.

3.111 acounting apparatus, the comloination of a registering mechanism, an electromagnet for effecting the operation of said mechanism, an energizing circuit for said electromagnet, a shift key, means operated by the actuation of said shift keyfor preparing said energizing circuit, a plurality of double case keys, and means operated thereby for closing a switch in said prepared circuit to effecta registration.

l. In a counting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of keys, a registering mechanism, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of said mechanism, an energizing circuit for said electromagnet, a shift key, a relay operated by the actuation of said key for preparing said energizing circuit, and means operated by theactuation of another of said keys for closing said prepared circuit to effect a registration.

In. witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21 day of May, A. D., 1915.

AMOS FREDERICK DIXON.

copies of 1:113. patent may he obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. Cf 

